ACLU Sues Trump Over Transgender Military Ban

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Dozens of protesters gather in Times Square near a military recruitment center to show their anger at President Donald Trump\'s decision to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military on July 26, 2017 in New York City. Trump citied the \"tremendous medical costs and disruption\" for his decision. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals joining the military.

The federal lawsuit was filed in Maryland on Monday by the ACLU of Maryland on behalf of several service members who are transgender.

Trump directed the Pentagon on Friday to implement the ban on transgender individuals joining the military, which he first announced in a tweet. He also gave to the Pentagon the authority to decide the future of openly transgender people already serving.

The lawsuit says Trump’s policy violates the equal protection rights of transgender service members who now have “grave reason to fear for their careers.”